中途半端(ちゅうとはんぱ)

ちゅうとはんぱ
na-adjective, noun
half-hearted, incomplete
descriptive
1. half-hearted, incomplete, half-baked
Neither fully done nor properly abandoned — stuck in an unsatisfying middle state. Describes work, effort, attitudes, or situations that lack commitment or completion.
中途半端(ちゅうとはんぱ)な気持(きも)ちではだめだ。
A half-hearted attitude won't do.
仕事(しごと)を中途半端(ちゅうとはんぱ)に残(のこ)したまま帰(かえ)った。
I left work with things half-finished.
中途半端(ちゅうとはんぱ)な知識(ちしき)で人(ひと)にアドバイスするのは危険(きけん)だ。
Giving people advice with incomplete knowledge is dangerous.

Common collocations

  • 中途半端(ちゅうとはんぱ)な気持(きも)ち (half-hearted feelings)
  • 中途半端(ちゅうとはんぱ)な知識(ちしき) (incomplete knowledge)
  • 中途半端(ちゅうとはんぱ)に終(お)わる (end inconclusively)
  • 中途半端(ちゅうとはんぱ)にする (leave half-done)

Usage

Always negative: it implies that something should have been done fully or not at all. It is commonly used to criticize lack of commitment or thoroughness.

Related Words

Compare: 尻(しり)すぼみ (fizzling out)
Compare: 不徹底(ふてってい) (incomplete)
Compare: どっちつかず (noncommittal)
general
Added 2026.2.16 7:39 · Revised 2026.10.18 9:25
11000/11305_chuutohanpa